Fewer than 20% of evaluated nursing homes made the list of “Best Nursing Homes” in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Nursing Homes rankings, out of nearly 15,000 facilities in the country. This includes those providing short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, or both. And, nearly half of nursing homes didn’t comply with federal regulation to […]
CMS
Uncertainty surrounding the information required for the new nursing home Medicare revalidation process has led to high levels of concern, particularly among for-profit operators, who view it as yet another punitive measure. Following letters from nursing home advocates about the rushed timing of the off-cycle revalidations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has […]
Last week’s finalized 2.83% cut to the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), which follows a series of payment reductions of recent years for rehab and therapy services for Medicare beneficiaries, is raising concerns about tightening access to such care in nursing homes, with physicians calling the situation unsustainable. For physicians, this particular cut in the PFS […]
Finance and operator voices alike are cautiously optimistic about prospects for the nursing home sector as the Trump administration prepares to enter the White House in January, alongside a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate that has historically been sympathetic to nursing home issues. When it comes to the federal minimum staffing mandate, Cascadia Healthcare’s […]
The long-term financial viability of nursing homes will be seriously challenged as operators face the fallout from the complete wind down of public health emergency (PHE) funds. This is especially true for nonprofit organizations, with many facilities unable to fund existing staffing levels. According to a report published in Health Affairs Covid-19 PHE funds allowed […]
Sabra Healthcare REIT (Nasdaq: SBRA) has had several quarters in a row of continuing occupancy and rent coverage improvement in all of its primary asset classes, including skilled nursing, distancing themselves from the pandemic, leaders said. Meanwhile, its investment pipeline is seeing more activity in the past months, with primarily deals of one or two […]
In 2025, the nursing home sector can expect several policy updates from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Director Evan Shulman said on Tuesday. He highlighted the agency’s work on risk-based surveys to reduce delays and new consumer guides for which the agency is seeking feedback from nursing homes, among other initiatives. Speaking […]
While prior authorization has a legitimate role in Medicare Advantage coverage, the practice has expanded to the point of negatively affecting care. This aspect of MA needs to be right sized, and likely through legislation, nursing home leaders said. About 90%-plus of physicians, including those serving nursing home patients, have said that one or more […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will no longer process optional state assessments (OSAs) after Oct. 1, 2025 for providers in states that are still transitioning to the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM). Moving ahead, CMS will not be involved in whether a state will continue to require the completion and submission of […]
On Wednesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released plans to update the State Performance Standards System (SPSS) for the 2025 fiscal year. This will involve eliminating two measures from the previous year, introducing a new one, and revamping several others. A new addition to the SPSS, which is the federal agency’s rubric […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) overstepped its authority in finalizing the federal nursing home staffing mandate, which “cannot stand” and should be set aside swiftly by a judge. This is the argument that the American Health Care Association, LeadingAge and other plaintiffs made in a Motion for Summary Judgment filed on Oct. […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) went over the off-cycle Medicare revalidation process for nursing homes in its latest open door forum on Thursday, its first in several months. About one-third of all providers will receive a letter from their Medicare administrative contractor (MAC) between this month and December requesting completion of the […]
Skilled nursing facilities need reasonable flexibility and additional support to meet the latest federal mandate – an off-cycle revalidation process for Medicare – for which nursing home advocates are seeking an extension. The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) sent a letter on Wednesday to the U.S. Department of Health […]
Clifton J. Porter II kicked off his first day as president and CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living this week – the transition comes after Porter was tapped to take on the role in July. Former AHCA/NCAL leader Mark Parkinson led the organization for 14 years prior to […]
The number of states challenging the federal minimum staffing mandate has now grown to 21 states, after 20 states filed a joint lawsuit. As of Tuesday, Iowa’s attorney general was the latest to sue the Biden-Harris administration, challenging the nursing home federal minimum staffing mandate along with Kansas, Virginia, South Carolina, and other mostly Republican-led […]
Nursing homes looking to best utilize QAPI, or the quality assurance and performance improvement program, should think beyond the obvious clinical compliance and care benefits to residents. QAPI is usually seen as a way to reduce falls or tighten up medication management, but operators can do a lot more with the data besides using it […]
Longevity Health and Infinity Healthcare Consulting on Wednesday announced a joint venture for institutional special needs plans (I-SNPs), marking Longevity’s entry into three new states, along with the expansion of its existing business into an additional state. Longevity and Infinity’s clients will collaborate to assist I-SNP members living in Infinity nursing facilities across Indiana, Kentucky […]
For its Quality Reporting Program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is exploring the possibility of expanding nursing home data collection and submission to all residents, regardless of payer type. Officials heard feedback on the challenges and benefits of such a move during a listening session held on Tuesday. If the federal agency […]
Newsweek released its list of top nursing homes for 2025 on Wednesday, ranking facilities within each state according to number of beds. Newsweek recognized 1,050 nursing homes across 25 states with the highest number of facilities, using data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in partnership with the global research firm […]
The U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision regarding civil monetary penalties (CMPs), which allows defendants the right to present their case to a federal jury when a federal agency is seeking financial penalties, may seem like a win for nursing homes at first glance. However, many providers are unlikely to pursue this path. The CMP decision […]
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